City residents to see increase in millage

City of Cheboygan residents will be seeing an increase in their 2013-2014 millage rate after city council approved the rates at Tuesday’s meeting.

By Richard Croftonrichard@cheboygantribune.com

City of Cheboygan residents will be seeing an increase in their 2013-2014 millage rate after city council approved the rates at Tuesday’s meeting.Last year, the millage rate was 4.6 mills for the 1997 water main project, public safety/fire addition and 1997 water/sewer upgrades. The rate for the upcoming year on those bonds will be 4.9 mills.“We had to increase them because of a drop in taxable value,” said city Clerk-Treasurer Ken Kwiatkowski. “We were cutting it very close.”City Manager Dale Stuart told council the city does not make money off these increases.“This is not generating money for the city,” he said. “This is simply to meet the debt.”The total millage for the city will be 19.9 mills as there is 15 mills included for city operation. This rate did not change.The cost in the upcoming year for the two water project bonds will be $349,512.50 while the cost for the public safety/fire addition will cost $109,155.In other action, the council also agreed to collect the summer school taxes for Cheboygan. “This is just a formality,” Kwiatkowski said. “We get the 1 percent admin fee that added $14,000 to the general revenue fund last year.” He told council this has been done in the past and there was no extra burden to city staff.Council also agreed to purchase a 2004 scissor lift for the city after the current lift quit working.“The current unit we have died,” Stuart said. “There are no parts for it anywhere.”The cost of the lift will be $12,9540, minus a $500 discount. The until also will be delivered to the city at no cost.“I believe it is a good unit. We have a need for it regularly throughout the city,” Stuart said. “This will be a fund balance purchase.”Finally, council also approved the use of Washington Park by the Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce for several events and to host several parades in town.The events will be Saturday-Sunday for the Arts and Craft Show; June 27, July 11, 18, 25, Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 for the Summer Concerts in the Park; and July 11 for Cheboygan Jaycees Kids Day.The first parade will be the annual Fourth of July Parade, starting at 10 a.m.; July 12 will be the Waterways Festival Parade at 6 p.m., and then Aug. 1, the Budweiser Clydesdales will be town from 5-7 p.m. to make deliveries downtown.